Written Answers Friday 22 February 2008

Scottish Executive

Antisocial Behaviour

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received to address antisocial behaviour in each year of the 2004 spending review.

Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4366 on 21 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Biodiversity

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet the Gothenberg target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government intends to make a full contribution to the European Union Gothenburg target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010 through its work with partner bodies to implement the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, and in co-operation with other UK administrations in the UK Biodiversity Partnership.

  The Scottish Government published Scotland’s Biodiversity It’s In Your Hands Progress Report 2005-07 in December 2007, which reports on the range of activities which have taken place in the first three years of the life of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. The strategy aims to "conserve biodiversity for the health, enjoyment and well being of the people of Scotland now and in the future." The report includes the first suite of biodiversity indicators for Scotland which will assist in measuring progress in implementing the strategy over time.

Biodiversity

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage new entrants to schemes that deliver biodiversity priorities and public benefits.

Michael Russell: Land management activity for the benefit of biodiversity will in the future be delivered through the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13, Rural Development Contracts. As part of an on-going communications strategy for the SRDP, the Scottish Government has engaged with over 400 agents directly and is holding a series of 21 public meetings throughout Scotland, the first five of which have been attended by over 1,100 people. Moreover, over 26,000 potential participants in the SRDP have been sent an information pack with detailed information on all aspects of the SRDP. This information pack is also available from Scotland Rural Development Programme Inspections Directorate Area Offices.

  In addition, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will continue to provide grants through its ‘Supporting Biodiversity’ and "Involving People" grant schemes. This will help ensure that biodiversity projects which are not within the current scope of SRDP assistance continue to have access to a source of funding.

  SNH will also continue to promote the EU’s financial instrument for the environment, LIFE+. SNH are leading the promotion and co-ordination of the Nature and Biodiversity component within the 2007-13 programme. The biodiversity strand affords applicants the opportunity to demonstrate innovative approaches aimed at implementing the objectives of the Commission Communication "Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond". SNH will advise potential applicants on their development and what other support it is able to provide.

Biodiversity

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the duty of public bodies to promote biodiversity extends to procurement.

Michael Russell: The duty on all public bodies to further the conservation of biodiversity in the course of their duties, which is contained in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, applies to all their policies and responsibilities.

Birds

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the funding and projects, including the LIFE project, to protect capercaillie in each year since 1999.

Michael Russell: The table below provides information for projects on which we have data:

  

Project
1999-200 (£)
2000-0 (£)
2001-02 (£)
2002-0 (£)
2003-04 (£)


UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan
55,696
400
25,362
98,179
30,000


Capercaillie Woodland Challenge Fund
 
 
680,753
 
 


EC LIFE Project "Urgent Conservation Management for Scottish Capercaillie"
 
 
1,643,443
721,917
565,671


Species Action Framework
 
 
 
 
 



  

Project
2004-05 (£)
2005-06 (£)
2006-07 (£)
2007-08 (£)


UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan
43,355
40,600
118,071
45,595


Capercaillie Woodland Challenge Fund
 
 
 
 


EC LIFE Project "Urgent Conservation Management for Scottish Capercaillie"
574,365
557,093
252,132
 


Species Action Framework
 
 
 
£121,300



  The Scottish Government does not hold comprehensive information relating to expenditure on other projects or programmes carried out by private and public sector bodies and land managers which are intended to benefit capercaillie.

Birds

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of numbers of capercaillie (a) in each year since 1999 and (b) by area.

Michael Russell: The Scottish population of capercaillie is estimated every six years as part of the Statutory Conservation Agencies and RSPB Annual Breeding Bird Scheme programme (SCARABBS). In 1998-99, the population was estimated at 1,073 individuals. In 2003-04, the population was estimated at 1980 individuals.

  The national survey data does not provide a reliable basis for estimating regional populations. However, numbers of lekking capercaillie are counted every year and the results by area are provided in the table below. It should be noted that prior to 2002, effort was targeted at locating leks rather than doing repeat surveys of known leks.

  

Year
Black Isle and East Ross
Moray, Speyside and Inverness
Kincardine and Upper Deeside


Leks
Males
Leks
Males
Leks
Males


1999
9
21
23
77
0
0


2000
9
14
24
71
8
22


2001
8
17
14
44
0
0


2002
11
23
36
106
19
39


2003
11
22
33
123
19
32


2004
11
29
39
151
19
35


2005
11
27
45
150
20
48


2006
11
18
51
136
20
40


2007
11
26
51
141
20
40



  

Year
Tayside and Loch Lomond
Glen Affric
Total


Leks
Males
Leks
Males
Leks
Males


1999
0
0
4
2
36
100


2000
8
12
5
2
54
121


2001
2
5
0
0
24
66


2002
7
11
0
0
73
179


2003
7
6
5
1
75
184


2004
6
7
5
0
80
222


2005
7
9
2
0
85
234


2006
9
12
2
0
93
206


2007
8
13
2
0
92
220

Care of Elderly People

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place of the (a) Implementation Group and (b) Strategic Group which it established jointly with COSLA to examine aspects of the implementation and interpretation of the legislation in relation to free personal care; whether it has received any reports and recommendations from these groups and whether these will be published, and whether it has reached any conclusions on them and, if so, when these conclusions will be announced.

Shona Robison: Several informal and formal meetings have taken place between Scottish Government and COSLA officials to discuss various strategic and implementation issues. In addition, there have been two meetings between Scottish ministers and the COSLA President to help guide this work. The Strategic Group is due to meet again at the end of this month, before a further meeting between ministers and the COSLA President.

  Evidence on the issues of food preparation, waiting lists and eligibility criteria has been gathered from local authorities and will inform options and recommendations on the way forward, to be considered jointly by COSLA and Scottish ministers. We will also consider together the outcome of the independent review of funding for free personal and nursing care being led by Lord Sutherland, which is due to report at the end of March. Following this joint consideration, we will announce our conclusions on how to ensure the more effective delivery of this important policy.

Class Sizes

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 classes in each local authority area now have 18 pupils or fewer.

Maureen Watt: Information on individual class sizes is published on the internet. The latest information is from the 2006 census and can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16412/PrimClassSizesSep06 .

Crime

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) crimes, (b) non-sexual crimes of violence, (c) serious assaults, (d) crimes of rape and attempted rape, (e) crimes of housebreaking, (f) crimes of vandalism, (g) crimes of handling an offensive weapon, (h) drug crimes and (i) murders have occurred in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: The requested information is given in the following tables.

  Total Number of Crimes Recorded by the Police, 1997-98 to 2006-07, by Local Authority Area

  

 
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-051
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
28,793
30,937
32,475
29,944
28,632
26,704
24,679
24,585
24,602
23,322


Aberdeenshire
10,515
10,332
10,801
11,000
9,844
8,870
9,646
11,001
11,345
10,527


Angus
6,829
6,440
6,578
5,785
6,230
6,184
5,775
5,842
5,901
6,099


Argyll and Bute
4,149
4,341
4,129
4,151
4,226
4,261
4,536
5,361
4,804
5,303


City of Edinburgh
46,207
47,326
55,387
52,753
52,616
50,610
53,299
52,059
49,848
48,385


City of Glasgow
91,510
96,041
88,151
85,939
84,724
83,399
76,037
78,014
75,870
75,387


Clackmannanshire
2,477
2,676
2,662
3,095
3,129
3,283
3,457
3,471
3,887
4,932


Dumfries and Galloway
9,022
8,471
8,269
7,664
8,126
10,279
10,488
10,679
9,732
9,547


Dundee City
19,121
17,879
17,228
16,172
17,155
16,493
16,434
17,398
15,593
15,512


East Ayrshire
8,328
9,063
8,974
8,991
10,131
8,579
7,888
9,214
8,216
8,544


East Dunbartonshire
6,164
6,246
5,439
5,386
4,942
4,649
4,402
5,325
4,622
4,874


East Lothian
4,142
4,013
4,660
4,180
4,369
4,746
4,390
4,944
4,827
5,232


East Renfrewshire
4,894
5,042
4,748
4,064
3,896
4,029
4,189
4,561
4,376
4,164


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
636
649
511
561
714
683
802
909
1,130
1,125


Falkirk
8,723
9,432
9,272
8,486
8,895
9,492
10,390
10,451
9,573
10,148


Fife
22,856
23,298
27,596
26,479
28,043
29,677
32,573
34,862
30,319
30,304


Highland
10,044
10,382
11,433
11,914
12,521
12,289
12,496
13,471
12,854
14,872


Inverclyde
8,364
8,522
7,286
7,124
7,719
7,304
7,758
8,027
7,206
7,040


Midlothian
4,551
4,560
5,362
4,854
5,075
5,366
5,614
8,219
7,276
6,325


Moray
5,270
4,550
4,957
4,881
5,166
4,383
4,541
5,398
5,655
5,900


North Ayrshire
8,750
9,480
9,459
9,845
10,723
10,406
10,024
11,200
11,032
9,871


North Lanarkshire
24,073
25,311
23,449
24,361
24,415
22,792
21,609
25,227
25,309
26,157


Orkney Islands
368
464
349
414
368
437
530
574
578
497


Perth and Kinross
8,586
8,327
7,823
7,175
7,946
8,317
7,898
8,605
7,958
7,634


Renfrewshire
16,285
17,716
16,483
15,851
16,463
14,511
14,905
15,223
13,296
14,672


Scottish Borders
4,658
5,096
5,481
5,121
5,624
5,675
6,044
5,905
5,633
5,402


Shetland Islands
787
662
546
595
635
667
708
706
851
782


South Ayrshire
7,531
8,092
7,010
7,223
7,915
7,349
6,878
7,741
7,256
7,531


South Lanarkshire
20,994
21,654
20,947
19,481
19,911
19,667
20,129
20,775
20,185
20,969


Stirling
4,673
5,404
5,402
4,875
5,149
5,616
5,893
5,894
5,963
6,150


West Dunbartonshire
9,853
9,350
9,398
8,560
8,710
8,970
8,716
9,491
9,101
9,160


West Lothian
11,849
12,340
13,216
11,570
12,176
12,594
11,486
12,989
12,987
12,890


All Scotland
421,002
434,096
435,481
418,494
426,188
418,281
414,214
438,121
417,785
419,257



  Note: 1. Data from 2004-05 shows the impact of the implementation of the Scottish Crime Recording Standard, which was expected to increase the numbers of minor crimes recorded by the police.

  Total Number of Non-Sexual Crimes of Violence Recorded by the Police, 1997-98 to 2006-07, by Local Authority Area

  

 
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
530
557
774
746
706
610
588
553
515
569


Aberdeenshire
175
257
314
360
298
310
249
236
264
286


Angus
218
187
164
127
125
100
118
102
97
138


Argyll and Bute
165
154
171
183
194
218
166
182
219
176


City of Edinburgh
1,513
1,529
1,830
1,765
1,624
1,888
1,704
1,468
1,342
1,418


City of Glasgow
4,007
4,743
4,843
4,339
4,774
4,950
4,830
4,530
4,007
4,064


Clackmannanshire
67
64
60
88
125
107
108
110
125
158


Dumfries and Galloway
201
144
147
157
193
211
209
188
179
160


Dundee City
452
376
366
326
323
300
346
368
374
386


East Ayrshire
264
348
406
380
455
346
284
370
265
320


East Dunbartonshire
215
179
171
174
184
167
147
166
151
156


East Lothian
124
139
179
167
133
140
158
122
92
153


East Renfrewshire
151
150
183
146
132
157
160
150
143
142


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
10
6
8
48
18
36
28
40
31
55


Falkirk
200
271
249
233
269
241
246
235
222
204


Fife
338
406
588
618
714
763
649
654
619
580


Highland
221
288
297
374
357
341
383
419
423
546


Inverclyde
362
383
351
341
387
364
400
320
288
298


Midlothian
129
125
209
173
126
163
166
161
151
127


Moray
115
105
148
181
147
166
114
107
110
101


North Ayrshire
338
415
450
427
449
484
451
383
400
413


North Lanarkshire
764
864
814
705
796
813
699
860
879
845


Orkney Islands
4
8
11
5
18
6
18
7
13
6


Perth and Kinross
182
178
147
124
147
153
116
164
105
138


Renfrewshire
644
710
695
667
814
721
639
594
616
678


Scottish Borders
154
144
179
159
162
292
173
159
134
109


Shetland Islands
7
5
8
24
12
22
15
28
14
33


South Ayrshire
225
254
289
241
286
279
265
267
235
261


South Lanarkshire
826
873
903
620
731
794
748
814
779
744


Stirling
122
117
125
115
156
137
150
143
142
159


West Dunbartonshire
367
397
439
472
468
465
484
446
457
384


West Lothian
304
317
313
327
330
330
376
382
335
292


All Scotland
13,394
14,693
15,831
14,812
15,653
16,074
15,187
14,728
13,726
14,099



  Total Number of Crimes of Serious Assault Recorded by the Police, 1997-98 to 2006-07, by Local Authority Area

  

 
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
168
199
234
229
171
184
199
191
173
212


Aberdeenshire
78
122
119
101
89
103
88
88
120
110


Angus
61
61
62
52
63
49
43
42
45
51


Argyll and Bute
78
82
90
79
80
101
83
107
88
103


City of Edinburgh
503
494
440
446
418
416
372
402
330
357


City of Glasgow
1,433
1,695
1,979
1,831
2,233
2,254
2,378
2,187
1,954
1,994


Clackmannanshire
33
36
36
51
54
46
43
48
47
47


Dumfries and Galloway
106
68
65
71
112
120
127
131
106
64


Dundee City
126
147
139
121
98
100
102
116
147
125


East Ayrshire
131
182
198
194
248
189
158
240
156
190


East Dunbartonshire
124
108
76
85
92
79
77
101
98
82


East Lothian
52
70
73
42
57
68
61
46
31
56


East Renfrewshire
61
67
76
66
65
57
66
70
55
59


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
0
2
2
10
7
19
12
12
15
36


Falkirk
86
159
118
117
135
121
144
111
96
81


Fife
88
92
243
264
292
272
274
242
260
275


Highland
84
119
152
207
203
189
160
201
228
266


Inverclyde
100
149
138
156
194
182
215
194
157
173


Midlothian
66
54
92
74
59
59
64
60
61
53


Moray
43
43
45
48
40
53
45
48
47
37


North Ayrshire
182
199
217
221
207
212
231
215
228
238


North Lanarkshire
420
417
433
399
384
353
334
441
458
475


Orkney Islands
1
5
7
3
10
5
9
6
10
4


Perth and Kinross
65
69
51
45
54
58
35
65
55
65


Renfrewshire
274
268
294
291
295
294
270
298
300
336


Scottish Borders
96
77
81
77
68
96
66
70
57
45


Shetland Islands
2
0
5
22
9
16
7
21
8
12


South Ayrshire
148
146
138
112
178
143
129
157
141
158


South Lanarkshire
451
442
471
329
362
390
380
442
443
415


Stirling
49
46
58
52
73
66
86
53
53
55


West Dunbartonshire
148
158
173
201
194
229
219
219
215
211


West Lothian
149
155
162
147
141
131
148
151
138
140


All Scotland
5,406
5,931
6,467
6,143
6,685
6,654
6,625
6,775
6,320
6,525



  Total Number of Crimes of Rape and Attempted Rape Recorded by the Police, 1997-98 to 2006-07, by Local Authority Area

  


1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
34
44
64
36
32
40
44
40
56
53


Aberdeenshire
43
43
23
27
21
39
32
28
37
41


Angus
24
28
25
13
18
35
30
17
26
14


Argyll and Bute
9
6
13
4
13
16
28
15
13
19


City of Edinburgh
121
144
54
120
90
126
104
156
137
158


City of Glasgow
110
113
122
117
145
127
145
171
175
161


Clackmannanshire
2
4
0
7
9
4
4
16
10
13


Dumfries and Galloway
26
27
42
17
23
17
29
22
32
21


Dundee City
44
30
38
39
46
44
30
42
51
33


East Ayrshire
23
14
15
15
20
19
19
21
20
20


East Dunbartonshire
14
11
7
2
3
7
4
7
4
2


East Lothian
11
5
14
9
19
19
20
16
26
10


East Renfrewshire
5
11
3
7
5
7
5
3
7
4


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
3
2
1
0
5
5
16
4
4
3


Falkirk
5
12
6
8
17
32
28
24
33
55


Fife
43
38
61
53
67
85
95
102
101
92


Highland
24
29
44
20
23
27
40
53
47
68


Inverclyde
13
13
15
19
14
13
3
7
9
11


Midlothian
9
15
16
17
12
22
23
20
24
15


Moray
8
13
14
9
9
8
24
18
33
17


North Ayrshire
13
18
22
17
14
15
38
33
36
28


North Lanarkshire
30
27
31
18
33
41
49
52
54
56


Orkney Islands
2
0
0
0
1
1
2
3
4
1


Perth and Kinross
13
33
14
15
9
16
18
14
29
21


Renfrewshire
19
26
28
16
17
21
19
21
19
23


Scottish Borders
22
10
17
5
21
19
23
36
26
21


Shetland Islands
1
5
4
1
5
4
1
5
1
0


South Ayrshire
17
23
13
17
7
7
27
18
21
26


South Lanarkshire
16
23
18
29
29
37
49
51
40
39


Stirling
5
12
2
8
20
23
27
16
27
26


West Dunbartonshire
17
9
14
13
12
15
22
17
11
19


West Lothian
38
9
15
12
29
33
39
61
48
53


All Scotland
764
797
755
690
788
924
1,037
1,109
1,161
1,123



  Total Number of Crimes of Housebreaking Recorded by the Police, 1997-98 to 2006-07, by Local Authority Area

  

 
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
4,503
4,787
4,349
5,035
3,983
3,503
3,076
2,674
2,687
2,166


Aberdeenshire
1,277
1,208
1,193
1,350
1,098
853
846
883
832
846


Angus
715
787
746
605
580
477
356
320
327
334


Argyll and Bute
572
618
614
471
480
454
388
440
338
358


City of Edinburgh
4,561
4,195
4,612
4,103
4,031
3,459
4,328
4,271
4,786
4,094


City of Glasgow
11,130
11,675
9,964
9,024
8,594
7,578
6,092
6,019
4,894
5,285


Clackmannanshire
487
484
425
466
430
335
259
280
248
312


Dumfries and Galloway
1,138
1,112
1,181
1,061
903
914
709
601
447
473


Dundee City
2,640
2,364
2,187
2,069
2,489
2,008
1,281
1,502
1,167
1,201


East Ayrshire
1,603
1,630
1,706
1,563
1,567
1,081
1,028
873
704
721


East Dunbartonshire
990
982
791
813
710
629
474
428
426
462


East Lothian
445
414
431
316
400
405
361
340
339
387


East Renfrewshire
979
921
881
642
581
611
580
498
442
431


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
39
52
35
47
41
28
32
26
61
39


Falkirk
1,022
1,160
1,162
1,047
948
998
1,051
891
680
755


Fife
3,222
3,132
3,917
3,201
3,329
3,259
3,398
3,131
2,470
2,328


Highland
801
720
764
669
625
693
718
643
381
467


Inverclyde
1,615
1,443
1,145
776
772
900
855
738
673
657


Midlothian
440
516
571
369
524
624
561
453
569
386


Moray
517
495
545
526
468
379
297
373
351
534


North Ayrshire
1,235
1,441
1,524
1,525
1,512
1,244
1,132
1,020
1,127
767


North Lanarkshire
3,634
3,390
2,925
2,642
2,655
1,986
1,750
1,801
1,715
1,848


Orkney Islands
26
28
16
18
15
33
11
23
7
15


Perth and Kinross
1,035
965
886
661
754
663
559
484
379
389


Renfrewshire
2,635
2,796
2,353
2,264
2,135
1,730
1,513
1,682
1,112
1,203


Scottish Borders
630
483
484
346
296
317
317
308
230
228


Shetland Islands
103
44
31
92
54
25
20
23
31
26


South Ayrshire
938
1,078
830
904
809
705
768
626
558
549


South Lanarkshire
2,927
2,899
2,877
2,450
2,424
2,145
1,723
1,659
1,598
1,680


Stirling
600
744
796
599
461
490
473
475
380
379


West Dunbartonshire
1,607
1,513
1,266
1,003
914
1,001
763
705
607
501


West Lothian
1,570
1,708
1,656
1,072
933
1,059
713
769
753
759


All Scotland
55,636
55,784
52,863
47,729
45,515
40,586
36,432
34,959
31,319
30,580



  Total Number of Crimes of Vandalism Recorded by the Police, 1997-98 to 2006-07, by Local Authority Area

  

 
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-051
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
3,832
4,210
4,533
4,280
4,323
3,912
4,631
5,335
5,315
5,415


Aberdeenshire
2,965
2,720
3,092
3,053
2,705
2,353
2,829
3,699
4,066
3,879


Angus
1,958
1,692
1,882
1,868
1,988
2,099
1,908
2,008
1,784
1,831


Argyll and Bute
789
772
790
825
926
946
1,173
1,827
1,536
1,683


City of Edinburgh
8,142
8,058
9,660
9,304
9,834
9,767
10,265
10,832
11,555
12,085


City of Glasgow
14,104
12,729
12,075
13,888
15,319
15,391
13,314
17,265
18,171
17,482


Clackmannanshire
490
489
583
772
730
745
770
1,029
1,167
1,702


Dumfries and Galloway
1,629
1,686
1,736
1,806
2,251
2,888
3,197
3,337
3,202
3,025


Dundee City
3,337
3,256
3,220
3,318
3,638
3,706
3,581
3,716
3,491
3,551


East Ayrshire
1,572
1,564
1,407
1,526
2,159
1,781
1,718
2,806
2,601
2,782


East Dunbartonshire
1,233
1,127
1,199
1,166
1,000
1,113
1,102
1,842
1,788
1,853


East Lothian
1,132
1,074
1,152
879
1,021
1,119
1,217
1,885
1,896
1,907


East Renfrewshire
773
573
603
594
794
942
1,083
1,749
1,670
1,484


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
199
176
131
184
166
192
231
268
333
344


Falkirk
1,877
1,707
1,845
1,567
1,542
1,842
2,486
2,972
2,785
3,123


Fife
5,102
4,844
6,046
5,802
7,096
7,214
8,696
10,856
9,778
9,740


Highland
1,910
2,181
2,887
3,044
3,109
3,100
3,211
4,156
3,775
4,549


Inverclyde
1,060
1,119
888
1,301
1,471
1,716
1,771
2,095
2,347
2,184


Midlothian
1,169
1,214
1,294
1,042
1,044
1,181
1,543
2,464
2,870
2,440


Moray
1,738
1,243
1,208
1,185
1,233
1,154
1,349
1,788
2,022
1,955


North Ayrshire
1,552
1,299
1,393
1,936
2,406
2,550
2,515
3,652
3,424
3,172


North Lanarkshire
4,298
3,936
3,959
5,438
5,845
5,131
5,225
7,686
8,618
8,897


Orkney Islands
80
191
86
143
118
160
222
265
259
162


Perth and Kinross
1,569
1,666
1,764
1,704
2,101
2,090
2,076
2,277
2,311
1,942


Renfrewshire
2,912
2,651
2,831
3,244
3,468
3,143
3,288
3,855
3,673
3,842


Scottish Borders
1,004
1,256
1,236
1,189
1,617
1,607
1,794
1,966
1,991
1,909


Shetland Islands
216
211
134
182
250
223
290
235
308
235


South Ayrshire
1,342
1,211
1,042
1,384
2,014
1,688
1,756
2,487
2,335
2,652


South Lanarkshire
3,666
3,532
3,568
4,305
4,581
5,088
5,687
6,765
6,443
6,855


Stirling
736
727
840
670
720
916
1,183
1,381
1,563
1,696


West Dunbartonshire
1,713
1,542
1,602
1,538
2,037
2,274
2,268
2,955
2,789
2,732


West Lothian
2,667
2,628
2,630
2,336
2,697
3,302
3,284
4,402
4,474
4,568


All Scotland
76,766
73,284
77,316
81,473
90,203
91,333
95,663
119,855
120,340
121,676



  Note: 1. Data from 2004-05 shows the impact of the implementation of the Scottish Crime Recording Standard, which was expected to increase the numbers of minor crimes recorded by the police.

  Total Number of Crimes of Handling an Offensive Weapon Recorded by the Police, 1997-98 to 2006-07, by Local Authority Area

  

 
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
195
195
216
213
245
303
328
329
309
331


Aberdeenshire
124
146
137
174
140
147
144
182
169
170


Angus
119
103
113
93
80
52
35
62
74
72


Argyll and Bute
59
69
84
81
78
96
79
109
103
163


City of Edinburgh
334
391
480
561
622
594
626
625
748
807


City of Glasgow
1,865
2,405
2,762
2,639
3,000
3,327
3,333
3,184
3,112
3,020


Clackmannanshire
24
31
47
44
76
107
79
83
89
138


Dumfries and Galloway
200
166
159
129
119
133
159
117
137
159


Dundee City
309
355
317
302
223
145
167
182
186
190


East Ayrshire
113
166
146
155
217
219
177
218
240
217


East Dunbartonshire
97
105
71
83
91
97
94
118
129
119


East Lothian
55
42
61
76
78
96
67
52
66
139


East Renfrewshire
57
58
96
55
78
96
83
123
76
96


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
11
19
10
6
8
7
12
10
19
16


Falkirk
121
108
125
116
168
169
184
203
164
222


Fife
296
265
346
426
430
220
235
271
273
341


Highland
197
186
248
207
261
256
235
252
282
360


Inverclyde
111
161
163
256
366
335
293
308
247
237


Midlothian
49
50
70
62
66
70
85
84
106
135


Moray
44
58
67
84
91
90
105
104
110
104


North Ayrshire
181
223
184
230
233
277
275
297
345
338


North Lanarkshire
353
385
439
393
525
545
537
632
669
684


Orkney Islands
8
7
10
8
3
3
4
4
10
10


Perth and Kinross
171
165
156
124
98
72
57
115
75
84


Renfrewshire
244
320
358
316
346
415
390
380
401
397


Scottish Borders
60
72
78
98
108
104
131
115
103
120


Shetland Islands
8
16
8
7
17
12
4
21
19
19


South Ayrshire
112
107
150
132
146
124
94
107
145
183


South Lanarkshire
372
460
608
578
633
685
645
641
586
589


Stirling
52
66
59
78
101
135
135
123
125
139


West Dunbartonshire
138
127
213
190
200
261
318
290
324
300


West Lothian
112
75
103
154
192
170
168
204
187
211


All Scotland
6,191
7,102
8,084
8,070
9,039
9,362
9,278
9,545
9,628
10,110



  Total Number of Drug Crimes Recorded by the Police, 1997-98 to 2006-07, by Local Authority Area

  

 
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
1,754
1,693
1,469
1,199
1,719
2,127
1,680
1,844
1,992
1,915


Aberdeenshire
924
921
632
710
805
784
731
791
864
659


Angus
445
418
352
337
423
467
574
617
678
658


Argyll and Bute
344
409
418
434
397
544
608
579
655
690


City of Edinburgh
2,335
2,298
2,801
2,945
3,151
3,729
3,220
3,274
3,550
4,304


City of Glasgow
7,246
8,311
7,881
8,764
9,317
9,587
10,363
9,758
10,741
8,863


Clackmannanshire
214
289
173
272
288
387
353
296
388
435


Dumfries and Galloway
910
869
615
498
589
779
1,002
935
949
1,042


Dundee City
825
817
705
716
1,015
1,186
1,407
1,553
1,582
1,445


East Ayrshire
580
634
791
749
867
977
879
912
1,065
945


East Dunbartonshire
296
320
284
337
460
476
473
548
399
336


East Lothian
222
177
189
370
220
562
325
401
347
283


East Renfrewshire
230
289
355
404
307
301
327
268
320
282


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
75
92
78
43
120
92
102
125
230
146


Falkirk
609
743
639
650
807
880
987
989
1,016
908


Fife
1,817
2,095
1,203
1,359
1,715
1,960
1,924
2,024
1,992
2,050


Highland
1,293
1,036
1,213
1,033
1,451
1,436
1,671
1,442
1,856
2,367


Inverclyde
830
853
753
966
978
1,126
1,057
1,218
932
1,103


Midlothian
367
299
309
420
418
427
375
457
412
433


Moray
281
266
230
277
262
347
380
402
432
347


North Ayrshire
680
825
735
845
887
1,046
1,140
1,256
1,361
1,235


North Lanarkshire
1,583
2,174
1,987
1,969
2,211
3,162
3,129
2,878
3,067
2,420


Orkney Islands
59
38
58
23
47
34
52
50
30
26


Perth and Kinross
795
896
663
659
809
930
1,103
1,280
1,063
1,021


Renfrewshire
950
1,478
1,253
999
1,190
1,321
1,142
1,036
1,140
1,759


Scottish Borders
337
459
726
651
718
591
683
748
806
675


Shetland Islands
84
63
103
89
83
91
135
105
113
127


South Ayrshire
574
839
670
645
887
980
715
743
871
829


South Lanarkshire
1,204
1,298
1,426
1,604
1,867
1,823
2,602
2,580
2,589
2,298


Stirling
305
454
307
559
768
760
760
666
629
590


West Dunbartonshire
700
653
527
683
784
942
1,178
1,014
1,089
1,300


West Lothian
567
813
829
872
1,190
1,084
1,198
1,034
1,089
931


All Scotland
29,435
32,819
30,374
32,081
36,750
40,938
42,275
41,823
44,247
42,422



  Total Number of Homicides Recorded by the Police, 1997-98 to 2006-07, by Local Authority Area

  

 
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
3
3
7
4
1
5
5
4
2
5


Aberdeenshire
0
1
2
7
0
2
2
4
0
2


Angus
0
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
0


Argyll and Bute
3
1
4
2
2
1
2
2
0
1


City of Edinburgh
11
10
7
6
8
10
6
12
9
11


City of Glasgow
32
30
40
32
34
41
33
42
31
33


Clackmannanshire
3
2
0
1
2
1
0
2
0
3


Dumfries and Galloway
1
2
4
8
5
0
3
3
3
0


Dundee City
4
2
2
2
5
6
2
2
5
3


East Ayrshire
4
1
5
2
2
2
3
0
1
2


East Dunbartonshire
1
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
2
0


East Lothian
3
1
7
0
1
3
3
3
0
1


East Renfrewshire
1
1
3
3
0
4
1
1
1
0


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1


Falkirk
1
2
1
3
1
5
1
2
3
1


Fife
1
3
2
3
2
2
3
4
1
6


Highland
0
3
3
2
2
3
2
7
2
3


Inverclyde
1
3
2
2
4
2
7
2
3
7


Midlothian
0
1
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
1


Moray
1
0
1
0
1
2
0
0
1
2


North Ayrshire
3
4
5
7
2
3
3
3
4
3


North Lanarkshire
6
8
13
6
6
5
6
11
6
10


Orkney Islands
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0


Perth and Kinross
1
0
1
3
1
2
1
0
0
1


Renfrewshire
7
3
3
5
5
8
9
8
7
5


Scottish Borders
1
1
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
0


Shetland Islands
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
1


South Ayrshire
0
0
1
0
4
0
0
3
0
3


South Lanarkshire
3
6
6
3
11
8
4
7
8
9


Stirling
1
1
2
0
1
0
0
2
0
0


West Dunbartonshire
7
2
2
1
3
3
3
4
1
4


West Lothian
2
2
0
4
2
3
2
7
1
3


All Scotland
102
96
127
113
111
123
107
142
95
121

Crown Estate

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what rental or other payments it makes to the Crown Estate annually and in respect of what functions.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government and its agencies use a number of diverse payment systems. Comprehensive information of the type sought is not available centrally. The Scottish Government itself does not rent any of the property it occupies from the Crown Estate.

Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met the General Teaching Council Scotland to discuss the findings of its 2006-07 employment survey of probationer teachers.

Maureen Watt: The findings have been discussed by officials.

  The General Teaching Council Scotland have indicated that they intend to carry out a follow up survey in May 2008.

Education

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what average (a) percentage and (b) number of qualified PE teachers remain in the profession five years after qualification.

Maureen Watt: The information requested is not held centrally as the school census does not collect sufficiently detailed data.

Health

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in which year financial support was initially provided to NHS Tayside to administer the Counterweight Programme.

Shona Robison: Funding for delivery of Counterweight in NHS Tayside is for two years from April 2006. The programme is designed to be self-sustaining after two years as a key element is training of staff that allows the Counterweight team to withdraw direct involvement in delivery.

Health

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been awarded to NHS Tayside to administer the Counterweight Programme in each year since commencement.

Shona Robison: The cost of delivering Counterweight in NHS Tayside between April 2006 and March 2008 will be £308,000. Of that, £268,000 goes to Robert Gordon University who lead the development of Counterweight in Scotland and £40,000 to NHS Tayside. The programme is designed to be self-sustaining after two years as a key element is training of staff that allows the Counterweight team to withdraw direct involvement in delivery.

Health

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available the statistical evidence that demonstrates that the Counterweight Programme has produced positive results in the NHS Tayside area.

Shona Robison: We are monitoring progress of the Counterweight programme on a regular basis. In addition Robert Gordon University are, as part of the roll-out, evaluating its performance. We expect to make available analysis on the delivery of Counterweight across all health boards at an appropriate point in the future.

Legal Aid

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been charged with false or non-declaration of assets in relation to legal aid claims since 1999.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been prosecuted for false or non-declaration of assets in relation to legal aid claims since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: The following table provides information on the number of cases referred to the procurator fiscal by the Scottish Legal Aid Board since 1999 because a legal aid recipient has made an untrue statement about his income and/or capital assets. Only the most serious cases are referred to the procurator fiscal. In other instances legal aid may be withdrawn and recovery action taken. In less serious cases the applicant’s financial eligibility will be re-assessed and they may be required to pay a higher contribution towards their legal costs.

  

Year
Charged
Outcome


1999-2000
1
1 x fine of £250


2000-01
0
0


2001-02
4
1 x 30 days imprisonment1 x fine of £7501 not guilty1 x deserted simpliciter


2002-03
1
1 x fine of £500


2003-04
3
1 x fine of £1,0001 x fine of £4001 x outstanding warrant for arrest


2004-05
1
1 x fine of £500


2005-06
7
1 x 240 hours Community Service Order1 x 180 hrs Com Service & £1,256 Compensation Order1 x fine of £4001 x fine of £2003 x cases on-going


2006-07
3
1 x 250 hours Community Service Order2 x outstanding warrant for arrest


2007-08
0
0

Legal Aid

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been recovered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board for false or non-declaration of assets in relation to legal aid claims since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: The following table provides information on the potential recoveries or savings made by the Scottish Legal Aid Board since 1999 where legal aid applicants have made an untrue statement as to their income and/or capital assets or have failed to disclose a material fact concerning their resources or have failed to inform the board of a material change to their financial circumstances.

  

Financial Year
Potential Savings and Recoveries


1999-2000
£481,316


2000-01
£1,203,185


2001-02
£985,491


2002-03
£963,797


2003-04
£662,167


2004-05
£845,278


2005-06
£544,349


2006-07
£841,301


2007-08 (as at 31/12/07)
£834,356

Maternity Services

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all maternity units offer pregnant women the option of an ultrasound scan 18 to 20 weeks into their pregnancy in accordance with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on screening for structural anomalies.

Shona Robison: Four of the fourteen NHS boards do not offer a fetal anomaly scan at 18 to 20 weeks as a matter of routine. The Scottish Government is however working closely with boards to develop the pregnancy screening programme with the aim of introducing a universal programme of care to pregnant women right across the country. The introduction of fetal anomaly scans however has significant implications for the health service in terms of resources, workforce, equipment and training.

  A Pregnancy Screening Policy Implementation Group has already started work and we are hoping to advise boards of resource allocation and likely timescales for introduction and roll out of the amendments to the pregnancy screening programme in the spring.

Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all sites of special scientific interest will be brought into a favourable condition under the terms of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

Michael Russell: The National Performance Framework published in the Scottish Government’s 2007 Spending Review included a target for increasing the proportion of protected nature sites in favourable condition. This is available via the following web link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/13092240/36.

Police

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers there have been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The information held centrally cannot provide a breakdown of the number of police officers by local authority. With regard to the number of whole-time equivalent police officers by police force area, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4664 on 17 October 2007 for the years from 1998 to 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  The relevant figures for 2007 are given in the Police Quarterly Strength Return, copies of which are held in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43307).

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the full-time-equivalent (a) authorised complement and (b) actual number of police officers in each force was on 31 December (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: The operational deployment of resources is a matter for chief constables, and no information on planned establishment levels is held centrally.

  Figures on the number of police officers are collected on a whole time equivalent basis for the Quarterly Strength Return. This is updated on a quarterly basis to reflect returns for 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December. Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 40257 (for 2006-07) and 43307 (for 2007-08).

Correction

The reply to question S3W-8461which was originally answered on 29 January 2008, has been corrected: see page 2361 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-08/wa0219.htm.